Closed dry cleaning system



.June i6, E942. N. MoNsARRAT CLOSED DRY CLEANING SYSTEM Filed nec. 28,v193s wlllllllll. l' [IMT Patenied June 16, 1942 Param" orf-lc CLOSED DRYCLEANING SYSTEM Application December 28, 1938, Serial No. 248,044

6 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in closed dry cleaning systems ofthe type comprising a washer, a filter, preferably one of the reversibleflow type, and a circulating pump.

My invention particularly relates to a novel construction forbackwashing the filter, preferably while bypassing the washer so that itwill be impossible to carry dislodged filter cake into the washer.-

A further object of my invention relates to improved means I preferablyemploy for bypassing the washer, as is often desirable in loading orunloading and for other purposes, whether or not the filter be providedwith means to backwash it.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel type of means forbackwashing the filter, irrespective of whether or not the Washer besimultaneously bypassed.

A further object of my invention is to provide a novel structure whereinit is impossible to backwash the filter unless the washer is bypassed.

I am aware that others have provided connecting pipe and valves forbackwashing the filter in such a dry cleaning system. Great difficultyhas been experienced, however, in having a single operative open andclose the four necessary valves Yfor this purpose in quick enoughfashion and in correct sequence to either (l) prevent the carryingforward of the filter cake or (2) prevent excess pressure from beingbuilt up at any point of the system with the usual damage'to the m0-tive means for the pump or other parts of the system.

I' am also awarel thaty others have provided pipes and valves forbypassing the washer. but great difl'iculty has also been experienced insimultaneously turning off and on the required three number of valves atthe same time to pro vide a continuous flow through the filter. If sucha continuous flow has not been provided it has been found that thefilter cake has tended to drop oiT the filter plates and thusdisintegrate to roil or foul the iiowing stream, which often requires acomplete refilling of the system, and if the washer be again connectedit sometimes results in damage to the goods. Where such a system hasAemployed both a bypass for the washer and a backwash for the filter, ithas been practically impossible for a single operative to change all thevalves simultaneously. My invention includes means movable by theoperative t close or open a plurality of valves at once, thus greatlyshortening the time formerly thought necessary to make the aforesaidconnections and 55 able manipulation thereof.

positively precluding any chance of error in the manipulating of thevalves in such a system.

A further object of my invention is to 'provide a novel structure whichwill also bypass the filter.

These and such other objects'of my invention as may hereinafter appear.will be best understood from a description of an embodiment thereof,such as is shown in the accompanying drawing which diagrammaticallyillustrate a clothes dry cleaning system constructed in accordance withmy invention.

In the drawing, Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevation of such a drycleaning system constructed in accordance with my invention.

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3--3 of Fig. 1.

In the drawing, wherein like characters of reference indicate like partsthroughout, 'IG generally indicates a closed dry cleaning systemconstructed in accordance with my invention. Dry

cleaning systems of this type usually include av washer I2, a lter I4and a circulating pump I6, and suitable means connecting said pump tosaid filter, said filter to said Washer'and said washer to said pump topermit a continuous flow of solvent therethrough. The washer I2 isprovided with an inlet I8 and an outlet 20. The reversible flow type offilter I4 `commonly employed is provided with inlet means 22 and afilter discharge pipe 24 therein and discharging outwardly through thewall thereof having holes 26 therein it is usable,

for the mounting thereon of hollow filter plates 28. Said hollow filterplates preferably have the side walls thereof constructed of a perviousma.

terial capable of collecting a filter cake from the solvent usuallyemployed in such a system on the exterior thereof in the normalcirculation of the solvent through the filter and adapted to dischargethe filter cake therefrom on the reverse flow of solvent from the hollowinteriors of said plates. The filter cake is preferably made up of asuitable powder inserted in the solvent which builds up on the exteriorof said pervious surfaces and does the actual filtering and to save theexpense of replacing the filter cake it is desirable to keep it on thefilter plates as long as As stated hitherto, suitable pipe means havehitherto been provided to connect the parts in the manner explained,being so arranged and provided with the desired number of hand-operatedvalves therein to bypass the washer and/or to backwash the filter on thesuit- My invention particularly relates to a novel arrangement of pipesand types of sliding stem or gate valves and operating levers Ipreferably employ to operate a plurality of valves at once to morequickly andl positively accomplish these results.

In sucha system be equipped with suitable means for backwashing thefilter, I preferably,

nected to the filter inlet means 22 and having a iilter inlet valve 32therein and the other end thereof connected to the filter discharge pipe24 and having a filter backwash inlet valve 34 therein, said pump I6being connected to said iilter inlet line 30 between said -valves 32 and34 by the line 36 preferably having a sight glass 38 therein, and theother line comprising a filter discharge line 46 having one end thereof,when the lines are parallel a similar end, connected to the filter inletmeans 22 and having a filter discharge valve 42 therein and its otherend, a similar end if said lines are parallel, connected to the'fllterdischarge pipe 24 and having a filter backwash discharge valve 44therein. If it be desired to bypass the washer another line comprisingthe washer line 48 may be provided, preferably parallel to said filterinlet line 30 and said filter discharge line 48. Where employed, saidwasher line 48 has one end thereof connected to the Washer inlet I8 andhas a Washer inlet valve 50 therein and its'other end connected to thewasher outlet 28 and has a washer outlet valve 52 therein, said washerline also having a bypass valve 54 substantially centrally thereofintermediate said inlet valve 50 and outlet valve 52. In the embodimentshown, employing both means to backwash the filter end means to bypassthe washer, I provide the pipe means 56 having a sight glass 58 therein,connecting the portion of said filter discharge line 40 between thevalves 42 and 444 to said Washer line 48' intermediate said inlet andbypass valves 58 and 54, and I provide pipe means 6l) connecting saidWasher line 48 intermediate said bypass and outlet valves 54 and 52 tosaid pump I6. If it be desired to eliminate the bypass feature, the pipe56 may be directly connected to the washer inlet I8 and the pipe 68 maybe directly connected to the washer outlet 20. If it be desired toeliminate the structure which permits the backwashing of the filter, theline 36 may be connected directly to the filter inlet means 22 and thepipe 56 may be connected directly to Ythe filter discharge pipe 24.

In accordance with my invention, all of said valves 32, 34, 42, 44, 50,52 and 54 comprise sliding stem or gate valves each preferably having aplate or other type of closure within the pipe for positively stoppingthe fiow therethrough and an integral stem projecting outwardlytherefrom. I pivotably mount the handle operated levers 62 and 64 o nsaid filter inlet and filter outlet lines 30 and 40 respectively,substantially centrally of said valves 32 and 34 and 42 and 44respectively and pivotally connect them to the respective valve stemsabove said valves to simultaneously alternately open and close thevalves at their respective lines, as shown in Fig. 2, the levers beingprovided with the operating handles 66 and 68 so that as the lever 62 israised 75 to o'pen the filter inlet valve 32 and close the filterbackwash inlet valve 34, its preferably parallel and opposite lever 64may be correspondingly lowered to close the filter backwash dischargevalve 42 and open the filter discharge valve 44, it being obvious thatwhen the positions of the respective levers 62 and 64 are reversed thatthe positions of the respective valves are reversed to permit the fllterI4 to be backwashed. It is also obvious that if said levers are raisedor lowered simultaneously that the valves will be moved to positionsbypassing the filter and instantaneously stopping flow within the filterto render it quiescent. Thus at any instant, if the filter cake bestirred up as indicated by a sight glass, the flow through the filtercan be instantly stopped by merely changing the position of one lever.

I also provide the levers 10 and 12 pivotably mounted on said washerline 48, the lever 18 being mounted substantially centrally between saidwasher inlet valve 50 and bypass valve 54, and the lever 12 beingpivotably mounted substantially centrally of said bypass valve 54 andoutlet valve 52. One of said levers in the embodiment shown, the lever10, is provided with the handle 14 and the inner ends of said levers areloosely pivotably joined together such as by means of the pin 16 mountedon the end of the valve stem of the bypass valve 54 registering withinan elongated slot 18 in each inner end of said levers 10 and 12 to forma toggle 80. The lever 1I) is pivotably mounted between said valves 58and.

54 on a link 82 pivotably mounted on said Washer line 48 in theembodiment shown substantially opposite or adjacent the connection ofthe pipe 56 connected to the filter dischargeline 40 and the lever 12 ispivotably mounted on a link 84 pivotably mounted on said washer line 48substantially opposite or adjacent the connection of 'the pipe 60connected to said circulating pump I6. In the embodiment shown thelevers 16 and 12 are mounted in a plane at a right angle to the plane ofsaid filter inlet and outlet levers 62 and 64, it being obvious that thelevers 10 and 12 may be mounted on said washer line 48 in any desiredfashion if a safety interference means 86, later to be described, be notemployed, or if it be not rigid from its point of connection to thelever 16 to the points where it interferes with the operation of thelevers 62 and 64. The links 82 and 84 are pivotably mounted at the abovepoints on said washer line to freely give to permit the free straightline up-and-down movement of the valve stems for the washer inlet andoutlet valves 50 and 52, the pin 16 riding within the respectiveelongated slots 18 to permit the valve stem for the bypass valve 54 toreciprocate in a straight line up and clown.

It is apparent that my improved type of lever means for reversing theflow in the filter with its respective pipes 30 and 40 suitablyarranged, preferably in a close parallel fashion for the more facilemanipulation of said valves, for operating two valves in a line at onceis novel. It is also apparent that my improved type of lever togglemeans for actuating three valves in the washer line 48 to simultaneouslyopen and close the inlet and outlet valves 50 and 52 and alternatelyclose or open the bypass valve 54 is also novel in the combinationshown.

In my preferred embodiment, however, I preferably so mount the togglemeans in relation 'to the lever means 62 and 64 and provide interferencemeans 86 movable with said washer bypass toggle 80 to lock said filterinlet and motion of said filter inlet and outlet levers to backwash thefilter in the manner hitherto described. In the embodiment shown, withthe toggle mounted in a plane at right angles to the planes of saidlevers, the interference means comprises an inverted U shaped member 86provided with diverging locking lugs 90 and 92 at the ends of its Ulegs, the lug 92 being adapted to overlie the operating lever 62, andthe lug 90 being adapted to underlie the operating lever Si to maintainthe respective backwash valves in a position to permit a continuous fiowthrough the lter lf3 and positively prevent any backwash flow while thewasher l2 is connected in the system. When, however, the handle ld ismoved to move the toggle 80 to bypass the washer l2, the rod 88connected to said interference member 86 will move said interferencemember 85 to the left to permit the lever Sli to be operated to thedotted line position shown and the lever 52 to be operated Within the Uto the dotted line position shown to reverse the flow through the filterinlet line and filter outlet line to backwash the filter. It isapparent, therefore, that the means for actuating the gate or slidingstem valves to reverse the iiow of the filter to backwash the filter isconnected to said operating means to vbe operable only to reverse theflow when said operating means is moved to a position to bypass thewasher. As stated hitherto, if desired, the interference means 8S may beomitted and my improved means for bypassing the washer or my improvedmeans for backwashing the filter may be employed independently of theother. lt is apparent, therefore, that I have provided a novel type ofclothes cleaning system with the advantages explained above.

It is understood that my invention is not lim'- ited to the specificembodiment shown and that various deviations may be made therefromwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A closed dry cleaning system, comprising a washer having an inlet andan outlet, a reversible fiow filter having inlet means, a filterdischarge pipe therein and hollow filter plates mounted on said filterdischarge pipe, a circulating pump, three conduits, one of said con-lduits comprising a filter inlet conduit having one end thereof connectedto the lter inlet means and having a filter inlet valve therein, and theother end thereof connected to the filter discharge pipe and having afilter backwash inlet valve therein, and pipe means connecting said pumpto said filter inlet conduit intermediate said valves, the second ofsaid conduits comprising a filter discharge conduit having one endconnected to the filter inlet means and having a filter discharge valvetherein and its other end connected to the filter discharge pipe andhaving a filter backwash valve therein, the third of said conduitscomprising a washer conduit having one end thereof connected to thewasher inlet and having a washer inlet valve therein and its other endconnected to the washer outlet .and having a washer outlet valve thereinand having a bypass valve intermediate said inlet and outlet valves,pipe means connecting said lter discharge conduit between said valves tosaid washer conduit intermediate said inlet and bypass valves, and pipemeans connecting said pump to said washer conduit intermediate saidbypass and outlet valves, levers including handles pivotably mounted onsaid filter inlet and lter outlet conduits intermediate said valves andpivotally connected-to the respective valves to simultaneously actuatethe valves in such manner that one valve in each conduit is open whilethe other valve is closed and vice versa, said levers having the handlesthereof extending in the same direction and so closely spaced to eachother that each may be grasped by a hand of a single operator, leverspivotally mounted on said washer conduit intermediate said valves havingtheir inner ends loosely pivotally joined together over said bypassvalve to form a toggle, pivotally connected to the respective valves tosimultaneously actuate said washer inlet and outlet valves and saidbypass valve in such manner that when the washer inlet and outlet valvesare open the bypass valve is closed, and vice versa, one of saidlevershaving a handle, and interference means connected to said washerconduit bypass toggle to move from a position locking said filter inletand outlet conduit valves in inlet flow position when the washer isconnected in said system to a position permitting reverse movements ofsaid filter inlet and outlet levers to backwash the filter only when thewasher is bypassed.

2. A closed dry cleaning system, comprising a washer having an inlet andan outlet, a reversible fiow filter having inlet means, a filterdischarge pipe therein and hollow iilter plates mounted on said filterdischarge pipe, a circulating pump, two conduits, one of said conduitscomprising a filter inlet conduit having one end thereof connected tothe lter inlet means and having a filter inlet valve therein and theother end thereof connected to the filter discharge pipe and having afilter backwash inlet valve therein, and pipe means connecting said pumpto said filter inlet conduit intermediate said valves, the second ofsaid conduits comprising a filter dischargeconduit having one endconnected to the filter inlet means and having a filter discharge valvetherein and its other end connected to the filter discharge pipe andhaving a filter backwash discharge valve therein, pipe means connectingthe portion of said filter discharge conduit between said valves to saidpump, and levers including handles pivotably mounted on said filterinlet and filter outlet conduits intermediate said valves and pivotallyconnected to the respective valves to simultaneously actuate the valvesin such manner that one valve in each conduit is open while' the othervalve is closed and vice versa, said levers having the handles thereofextending in the same direction and so closely spaced to each other thateach may be grasped by a hand of a single operator.

3. A closed dry cleaning system, comprising a Washer having an inlet andan outlet, a filter having inlet means, av filter discharge pipe thereinand hollow filter plates mounted on said filter discharge pipe, acirculating pump, a a washer conduit having one end thereof connected tothe Washer inlet and having .a washer inlet valve therein and its otherend connected to the washer outlet and having a washer outlet valvetherein and having a bypass valve intermediate said inlet and outlet'valves, pipe means connecting said pump to said filter inlet means,pipe means connecting said lter discharge pipe to said washer conduitintermediate said inlet and bypass valves, and pipe means connectingsaid pump to said Washer conduit intermediate said bypass and outletvalves, and levers pivotably mounted on said washer conduit intermediatesaid valves having their inner ends loosely pivotally joined togetherover said bypass valve to form a toggle, pivotally connected to therespective valves to simultaneously actuate said washer inlet and outletvalves and said bypass valve in such manner that when the washer inletand outlet valves are open the bypass valve is closed, and vice versa,one of said levers having a handle.

4. A closed dry cleaning system, `comprising a washer having an inletand an outlet, a reversible flow lter having inlet means, a illterdischarge pipe therein and hollow i'llter plates mounted on said filterdischarge pipe, a circulating pump, three conduits, one of said conduitscomprising a filter inlet conduit having one end thereof connected tothe lter inlet means and having a filter inlet valve therein, and theother end thereof connected to the lter discharge pipe and having a lterbackwash inlet valve therein, and pipe means connecting said pump tosaid lter inlet conduit intermediate said valves, the second of saidconduits comprising a lter discharge conduit having one end connected tothe filter inlet means and having a filter discharge valve therein andits other end connected to the filter discharge pipe and having a lterbackwash valve therein, the third of said conduits comprising a washerconduit having one end thereof connected to the washer inlet and havinga washer inlet valve therein and its other end connected 'to the washeroutlet and having a washer outlet valve therein and having a bypassvalve intermediate said inlet and outlet valves, pipe means connectingsaid lter discharge conduit between said valves to said washer conduitintermediate said inlet and bypass valves, and pipe means connectingsaid pump to said washer conduit intermediate said bypass and outletvalves, levers including handles pivotably mounted on said filter inletand filter outlet conduits intermediate said valves and pivotallyconnected to the respective valves to simultaneously actuate the valvesin such manner that one valve in each conduit is open while the othervalve is closed and vice versa, said levers having the handles thereofso closely spaced to each other that each may be grasped by a hand of asingle operator, levers pivotably mounted on said washer conduitintermediate said valves having their inner ends loosely pivotallyjoined together over said bypass valve to form a toggle, pivotallyconnected to the respective valves to simultaneously actuate said washerinlet and outlet valves and said bypass valve in such manner that whenthe washer inlet and outlet valves are open the bypass valve is closed,and vice versa, one of said levers having a handle, and interferencemeans connected to said washer conduit bypass toggle to move from aposition locking said lter inlet'and outlet conduit valves in inlet owposition when the washer is connected in said system to a positionpermitting reverse movements of said lter inlet and outlet levers tobackwash the filter only when the l washer is bypassed.

5. A closed dry cleaning system, comprising a washer having an inlet andan outlet, a reversible flow filter having inlet means, a lter dischargepipe therein and hollow filter plates mounted on said filter dischargepipe, a circulating pump, two conduits, one of said conduits comprisinga filter inlet conduit having one end thereof connected to the filterinlet means and having a illter inlet valve therein and the other endthereof connected to the filter discharge pipe and having a filterbackwash inlet valve therein, and pipe means connecting said pump tosaid filter inlet conduit intermediate said valves, the second of saidconduits comprising a filter discharge conduit having one end connectedto the filter inlet means and having a lter discharge valve therein andits other end connected to the lter discharge pipe and having a filterbackwash valve therein, pipe means connecting the portion ot said iilterdischarge conduit between said valves to said pump, and levers includinghandles pivotably mounted on said filter inlet and filter outletconduits intermediate said valves and pivotally connected to therespective valves to simultaneously actuate the valves in such mannerthat one valve in each conduit is open while the other valve is closedand vice versa, said levers having the handles thereof so closely spacedto each other that each may be grasped by a hand of a single operator.

6. A closed dry cleaning system, comprising a washer having an inlet andan outlet, a. filter having inlet means, a filter discharge pipe thereinand hollow lter plates mounted on said filter discharge pipe, acirculating pump, a Washer conduit having one end thereof connected tothe washer inlet and having a washer inlet valve therein and its otherend connected to the washer outlet and having a Washer outlet valvetherein and having a bypass valve intermediate said inlet and outletvalves, pipe means connecting said pump to said filter inlet means, pipemeans connecting said filter discharge pipe to said washer conduitintermediate said inlet and bypass valves, and pipe means connectingsaid pump to said washer conduit intermediate said bypass and outletvalves, and levers pivotally mounted on said washer conduit intermediatesaid valves having their inner ends loosely pivotally joined togetherover said bypass valve to form a toggle, pivotally1 connected to therespective valves to simultaneously actuate said washer inlet and outletvalves and said bypass valve in such manner that when the washer inletand outlet valves are open the bypass Valve is closed, and vice versa,one of said levers having a handle.

, NICHOLAS MONSARRAT.

